Supreme Court Seeks Comments on Rules Amendments

The Tennessee Supreme Court has published a draft of its 2013 Rules Package for comment. The package includes proposed amendments that would provide for appeal as of right for final order denying request for expunction of an illegal sentence; clarifying that the trial court does not lose jurisdiction to rule on certain motions filed within the time permitted for appeal; setting page limits on TRAP 11 applications for permission to appeal; adopting a TBA-recommended comment clarifying that a statutorily authorized "petition" be considered a "complaint" for purposes of the Rules of Civil Procedure; integrating the procedures of the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act into the rules; addressing requirements for depositions taken in Tennessee for use elsewhere; including interpreter fees in costs; clarifying provisions regarding appeal of cases in which criminally accused reserves a certified question of law. Various Tennessee Bar Association sections will be asked to review and recommend comments, if any, on behalf of the association. Comments are due Nov. 30. Download a complete copy of the rules changes